Serenbe

Such a great experience we had when we visited this farm for our photo shoot! We meandered around the restaurants, the farmland, the garden and so much more! Can't wait to come here for a longer weekend trip in the very near future!

This review is specifically for the Right Off The Farm Cooking Class which I attended the last Saturday of February. The description of the class was: "Chef Paddy Adolfi leads guests through this hands-on seasonal cooking class. Create meals that highlight fruits, vegetables and herbs from Serenbe Farms, and produce, cheeses, meats and other specialty products from local Chatt Hills and regional producers." Based on this, I visualized that everyone in the class would have their own stations and would be cooking their own meal. However, the format would be better described as a cooking demonstration rather than a "hands-on class." There were 20+ attendees hovering around the countertop where the kitchen was located in the room. Had I known I would be doing this amount of standing, I would have worn better shoes. Most attendees were not involved at all with the cooking, save for the one woman who was asked to stir the food in the pot. The chef created a meal that included a chicken "stew" with fresh vegetables and biscuits. We were served unlimited beer and wine, so that kind of made up for the disappointment in the format. The meal was served in a help-yourself-buffet style, so by the time we stood in line and finally sat down to eat, it was well past 2:00 pm. Thank goodness we had eaten a snack not too long before coming here, but we were still pretty starving as this is a pretty late lunch. For $65 per person I think they could have provided some light food to graze on while we were waiting for the cooking to be completed. This was my first time at Serenbe, while my friend had been there before. She attended the tour with the founder/developer so she'd already drunk the Kool Aid. I thought it was an interesting place but that's about it. It's nice that it is located relatively close to metro Atlanta. I could see how staying here would be a nice and relaxing getaway, way better than a day trip.

I would more serene be if the staff wore masks. I had to ask the masseuses at the spa to wear masks, and the staff at the inn did not wear masks. Fortunately the staff at the bookstore and General Store in Grange wore masks and also required masks of customers. Those were the only places in Serenbe where I felt comfortable indoors.

My friend and I decided to take the drive to Serenbe, where once in the area, signage to the community was not visible, and even with gps navigation, it was difficult to locate. Our reservations were for Sunday. We arrived 11:45 am for our 12pm reservations, the place was empty, but we were held at the door and told that they didn't seat guests till noon. Really??? Finally, we were seated & after perusing the limited (3 protein items) menu, we placed our order. We're wine people, but we've never seen the insane prices on several wines for a "farmhouse" restaurant setting. Although, we did end up finding a nice bottle. I write this review as a warning and with regret because we're both foodies & my friend has owned a couple of successful restaurants in Atlanta. We love celebrating local chefs and their creations. First, we were given the biscuits. A bit dry but eh. I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken and my friend ordered the salmon. The only offering for sides were greens, coleslaw & home fries. The dishes came with all 3. For a restaurant owned by Mr. Nygren, whose restaurants, years ago, were known for serving great meals, this was abominable. The greens were flavorless with no seasoning, the home fries tasted old and reheated. The coleslaw tasted as if a portion of a bag of pre-cut cabbage had been placed in the cup served, no vinegar, mayo, no seasoning, so of course no flavor. I've eaten in Atlanta cafeterias where the food was 200% tastier than this lunch. To say that this lunch was a major disappointment is putting it mildly, especially since I drove 2 hours from NE Georgia with my friend joining me from North Atlanta. Could this lunch have been worse, possibly, but I've never had a more disappointing lunch.

Just came back from a 1 night stay at the inn for their spa special. It included 3 services at the spa + 1 night at inn + breakfast + tea time. Cost was close to $800 for 2 people + lunch/dinner expense. It was probably a 3.5-4 star experience. Spa: Was my favorite part. Services and staff were great and everyone was friendly. I got the massage, body scrub and reflexology. Although I found the spa a bit cramped. On Saturday the waiting area was crowded. Who wants to sit should shoulder to shoulder in a robe. They really need a larger reception area and waiting area to make it more serene. In the waiting area the receptionist sits at a tiny checkin table. She should be at a reception booth in my opinion. Inn: Think bed and breakfast. Nothing fancy but clean and nice. Not a 5 star hotel. Breakfast: Was great. You can select from eggs, omlet, French toast and they also had fruit and fresh juices Tea time: Tea time is 4-5p at the farmhouse restaurant. It leaves much to be desired. As another reviewer mentioned it is basically frozen appetizers and potato chips. You know how Costco sells that frozen mini quiches? Yup that's it. It would be sooooo easy to improve upon this! Overall serenbe is a cool place. It's definitely like no place I have been before. Lots of walking and hiking and nature. But they can easily improve upon the experience. It's a high price point and some improvements would certainly help. Add some street lights! The parking lots are so dark you can't see your own two feet. It's dangerous. A fridge in each room would be cool too. More signage. It's hard to your way if you are new to the area.

The organic farm is what attractive me to Serenbe Farms. Plus I wanted to check out their weekly farmer's market. Serenbe Farms is located in Palmetto, which is around 30 minutes south of Atlanta. I don't often travel 85 South and when I do, it feels like I'm going out of town. Serenbe Farms is impressive. It is like another town, another world. Like my daughter says, it looks like Sim City. Hubby thinks it's so beautiful that it's so unreal, something like the Truman Show. We walked around the small town and found the map of the place. I was quite impress. It's gorgeous but is secluded as well. Their goal is to have a community that is safe, healthy, and have local food close by in walking distance. We saw a lot of golf cart as transportation. While waiting for the farm tour to start, we overheard another group getting a tour from the realtors. We opted not to go since it would clash with the farm tour. The farm tour is $8 but there was a misunderstanding. I didn't know you had to go to the actual farm for the tour. The signs were at the open farmer's market where we saw the other group getting a tour of the town from the realtors. We didn't go to the stable but had to pass it to get to the farm. Honestly, we couldn't find the farm, just a lot of houses and many in construction. While trying to find the farm, we passed by a small outside arts festival outside a few restaurants. The smokiness from the barbecue from one of the vendors caught our attention. Since we couldn't find the farm, we decided to eat barbecue. The food was delicious!! It is the best tasting chicken barbecue that I've ever had. The meat is tender, not salty (that's one of my pet peeves from barbecue joints), and the sauce on top was perfect!! I am drooling just typing it up. I don't think the vendor has a store but live in the area. I did not see a sign or any business cards or even the bag indicating who they are. All I know is that it's the best barbecue chicken I've ever had. Hubby and daughter both got steak and said how amazing it was too. While driving out and heading on the main road, we saw the back of the organic farm. I was sad cause I wanted to go there, that was the main reason why we came. However, it was really small from what I would expect, especially paying $8 per person for it. Overall, it's not a bad experience, 3.5 out of 5, I would like to come again and check out the stables. Where are all the animals? I see a bunch of pictures on Yelp but didn't see any there.

This beautiful farm/living experience is quite breath taking place. First we went to the playhouse for the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the play was outside and you walked with the actors as they moved from scene to scene or set area. The lighting was so good and makeup made everything so eerie feeling. They must have paid the weather guy to make it perfect for the foggy effect of a misty cool night with the hint of ooooooooooo and the surprising awwwwwwwwwwwwww. Moving forward 2 months later and the Snow Queen was just as entertaining and magical again the feeling and weather were prefect for the experience. But the whole experience of the little village of Serenbe set behind a row of tall trees, quiet drive to the entrance of this little private oasis. Homes built to match no other, little shops and boutiques line this little villages main street. Restaurants (which I ate at two) were very nice and yummy matching the picturesque village and the unique flavor of the people who calls this place home. Saturday farmers market, vegetables from the Serenbe farm. Art shows, plays, markets, just a great little place. Really you should just check it out.

My wife and I stopped by for a short visit and have some friends who live in Serenbe. We've been meaning to stop by for a while. All the shops were closed due to the holidays but we got an amazing Americano and Pumpkin Bar from the Blue Eyed Daisy coffee shop and strolled around - well worth visiting.

Went horseback riding and it was great! Used the deal from Scoutmob. Ashley was our guide and was helpful and friendly. Really pretty trail! Hard to believe something like this is so close(ish) to Atlanta! A nice getaway from the city. I didn't realize there was a whole community here! Really interesting place.

I loved staying at Serenbe, which means I LOVED the farm! We had the fried chicken lunch at the Farmhouse, did the trail riding, ate dinner at the Hil, stayed in Dogwood cottage, and spent the rest of our time exploring. The morning that we left, we asked if we could feed the farm animals. We were given a tote bag full of small animal feed and large animal biscuits and off we went. I had a blast feeding the baby donkeys, pigs, goats, chickens, ponies, and sheep! This was one of my favorite parts of our trip and I could see why this would be a great activity for families. The farm animals are also very shaded, so I didn't feel like I would get sunburned being outside being with them. There are hayrides and more formal animal feeding activities, but we just went on our own, which I LOVED.

This place is not for me. I wish I had read more reviews ahead of time. I rented a $300/night townhome for just my young daughter and me for three nights. I am 100% sure I will never go back. The employees seem to do okay with large groups but not small families. We stayed in the "community," which seemed cult-like. The residents all appear to be the same demographic and even race. Everyone knows each other, so we were obvious outsiders. The employees of the restaurants and shops treat you as such... sort of staring and not really understanding why you are there. My daughter was holding a bracelet I intended to buy in a resale store, and an employee followed us around. She eventually took the bracelet from my daughter. I let her know I wanted to buy it. It was a $25 bracelet. I was not trying to steal it. (Bracelet already broke, by the way.) The restaurants (besides the Hill) have hardly any customers so they have awkward hours. And you have to rent a golf cart to make the visit workable. And the nearest town is 30 minutes away. The townhome was up a flight of steps. If I had known that, I would have brought a baby gate to keep my daughter safe. I specifically mentioned my toddler when I made the reservation. In the middle of the afternoon on Saturday, there was loud construction next door. Guest services said they were building a restaurant. Also would have been nice to plan for. The first floor of the townhome was full of debris and junk. I suggested to Guest Services that this was unsightly and gave me a feeling of being on an abandoned row (also since there seemed to be no other residents or visitors on this row). They said, "to each their own." They did try to offer a new place to stay, but I did not get cell service anywhere on the property. So I did not get this offer til we went to pick up animal feed the next day. The brochure mentions a bonfire. I asked about this at guest services and was told, "That is upon request." It was clear I was not to request this for just two of us. They are very sketchy about details... never offering any. For example, I still don't have an itemized bill, and we checked out a week ago. I even called and asked them to send it. Shows up on my credit card though. The whole experience was so uncomfortable, I tried to leave a night early even though I would not get a refund. Unfortunately, my car stalled, so we could not leave until the next day. The tow truck driver from Atlanta was a sight for sore eyes. He also treated us like people instead of outsiders. Also, the housekeeping and grounds crew seemed very normal and approachable. A hostess at the farmhouse was also very kind to us, offering crayons to my daughter and playing peek-a-boo. Bottomline... great for residents, good for big groups. Families should just make day trips for free. Pay for animal feed. Jump on the trampoline and play basketball. Visit the farmer's market.

The grounds are beautiful. I can't give more than one star, for one big reason. I stayed in the "Lake House" and came home with bed bugs. Bites all over my body. I hope I can get rid of them! Clean up your act, Serenbe.

Mixed feelings about Serenbe. It's beautiful, it's quiet. It's almost too quiet. I rented a beautiful condo for a weekend with my son and his friend (12yrs). We spent 3 hours just at the animal farm- they loved it. They liked the trampoline and hiking around a bit. We were going to rent bikes at Ptree bikes, but there were none to rent, and surprisingly, we did not see anyone on a bike the whole time. They don't ride horses, but that might have been an option for some. We ate at the Hil twice and the Daisy once. So after a day we were done. We actually left a night early because we were out of things to do. This would be a great place for a girls weekend or maybe a night at the Inn I have not stayed there). Recommend for kids under 8 and adults. Teens, maybe not so much, but depends on the teen. It really is a cool place, but not for a whole weekend. At least not for me.

Wow!! Had a very relaxing and FUN stay at this farm. I took a random Sunday trip with the boyfriend. I had no idea what expect when we booked our stay. We stayed in the Magnolia Cabin which was well above my expectations. Very beautiful cabin with a small kitchen, wrap around porch and huge bathroom. The highlights of the trip (which was less than an hour drive out of the City of Atlanta) included - petting the newest baby goats Lola and (can't remember name of the other) - the great staff who made us feel like royalty - walking the property which turned into such a fun adventure - the restaurant and the great food and drinks - after dinner where in one of the den's and started reading about Civil War history (which led to our debate of the evening) - the fire place in the room where we continued our Civil War discussion which led to laughter and silliness This weekend stay was romantic, active and involved because that is what we made of it. This is very much the kind of place that will adapt to whatever you make of it. Whether it be romantic, family-oriented or just a few friends gathering out of the City. I can't recommend this great little secret enough. I only wish I would have had the funds and time to enjoy the spa and horse-back riding that is available.

Love this place! very artsy, village type place. When you first come into Serenbe you can turn left to go to the subdivision part or stay straight to see the very artsy and original homes; then you will come to a market place that is also very artsy; the Blue eyes Daisy has delicious food and desserts, cold drinks; we also did the trail riding which was beautiful and relaxing. Our guide was very sweet as she brought her adorable daughter with her to help. We ate lunch at The Hill which is rather upscale-ish, but you can wear nice jeans and still feel OK. The food was awesome! I had the burger with pimento cheese on top and the fries are natural fries, the hamburger was juicy and cooked just right. Knowing that all of their food is as organic and natural as it can get makes it even better. Lovely atmosphere, too. They typically have market day and there is also a wooded area that leads back to a stream for walking (with or without the dog) Just a lovely place, great concept as far as the farm-to-table style, quiet natural setting and if I could afford to live there, I most certainly would :) Oh, and they also do plays...we were there last year when they did the Headless Horseman; our guide on the horseback ride was playing the part of the horseman. It was very well done by all, so if you get a chance to see a play, you won't be disappointed. The little shops along the main street area are all very cozy and have unique items, some of which are made by the artists who live in Serenbe. In short, You'll love it there.

It is worth the drive. You can take the back roads from 285/I-20 or you can take I-85 south. Either way, you can notice that driving through the back roads is like driving through North Georgia - silence, lots of trees, small and large homes with super long driveways, and plenty of trucks. The community is a bit further down the road from the farm, and the Serenbe community has a sign that clearly directs you to houses, the restaurants, and the shops. Serenbe has grown in the last few years. There is a montessori school and houses for rent and sale as well as property for sale. I think the properties cost around $300,000-$800,000. The farmers market is open from May-October. I thought Serenbe was a hippie community when I read about it, but it really isn't. At first, I didn't think it was worth it to drive to a farm! I mean, really? But once I saw the community, my mind was changed. It reminds me of other urban developments and even some little ski villages in Colorado. As you are leaving, make sure to take the correct first three streets or else you will end up in Coweta, South Fulton, or Fayette Counties very easily - so close but so far, parallel to the freeway.

Great place to get away and get out the city. I visited for a festival they were having. This little community is really beautiful. I tried one restaurant, I'm totally forgetting the name, but it was really good. It's a nice place to go and check out on a weekend.

It has been four day and three phone calls waiting to hear back from a manager after our Sunday lunch. Chicken-dry Vegetable-under cooked(twice) Flies everywhere inside!!!! Two table were trying to kill them with our napkins Awful service Staff knew how bad the flies were and said,"there is nothing we can do" I paid bill and tip NEVER AGAIN

This is a review of Horseback Riding on the Trails at Serenbe. We had a FANTASTIC time. I bought the coupon on Scoutmob a month ago and we went to celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday on Easter. The trail was beautiful just like the commenter before me stated. Kelsey was our guide. She was so awesome. We'll absolutely be back.

This is a review for the trail rides given at Serenbe farms. The boyfriend surprised me this past Saturday with the 2 hour trail ride. We were a little late thanks to 75 south being largely shut down. We called Ashely and she was happy to wait for us to arrive. We got there only about 15 minutes late. The horses were ready, so we signed our waivers and got on the trail. It was a really nice ride. The woods were dense enough that I didn't even need sunscreen. We passed by creeks and through fields. I hadn't been on a horse in years, but it was great to get back in the saddle. Ashley was an attentive guide. I kept having trouble with my horse's saddle and ultimately she had to completely redo it. She explained a bit about the farm and how the community was arranged. It didn't end up being 2 hours of ride time thanks to being delayed, but that wasn't a big deal. The ponies, donkeys, and other horses greeted us on our return and Ashley gave us treats to reward our horses after the ride. I would definitely recommend this for an afternoon that's not your typical outdoor activity.

Gorgeous, warm vibes and unique. Love the environment. If I had the big bucks I might live here.

Thought I take a change of pace from staying at the normal hotel chains on a recent trip to the Atlanta area. Stayed in the lake house for the evening, unique decor in the rooms, television didn't work well, internet connection was sporadic and there was no in room adjustment for the air conditioning - the thermostat is in the hall, so there's no way to get your room really very comfortable. They do bring you chocolate chip cookie, which was pretty tasty. Think if I were to stay there again I might try one of the cabins. The grounds are nice and if you want to take a evening stroll it's peaceful. The restaurant is not open on Monday, the only place close is a bakery down in the community that has a limited menu, so had to drive a ways to get something to eat for dinner. Breakfast menu offered up two choices, but is included in the cost of the room, the service was very good. All in all, guess this is nice place to get away from the hustle and noise of the big city.

The Serenbe Community is fantastic! We didn't get to have a tour of the farms, but we were able to watch Alice in Wonderland, go to the farmer's market, visit the Blue Eyed Daisy, eat lunch at The Hil, visit the animals, tour the Net Zero home, walk some of the trails, and go to dinner at The Farmhouse. As you can see, there is plenty to do in the community! If you get a chance, definitely go to one of the plays! They are so creative and wonderful! This community is such a great weekend get away! We weren't able to stay on the property, but we stayed at the Wyndam about 20 minutes away. It was a huge cost saver and we didn't need to go back to the hotel much at all because everything is in the community.

A hidden gem. Serenbe has a sustainable development plan worth checking out. A very sweet little community has grown up here, complete with a working farm and great animals, a constant stream of visitors, cute but consumerist and overpriced stores good for the spoiled women who can afford to come here just to get a taste of the sustainable life for a weekend retreat, and some pretty good food options (also quite pricey). I long for the day when sustainability is both sustainable and attainable -- Serenbe is at least stepping somewhat in the right direction by plowing ahead with their vision.

My family and I really enjoy coming here for bike rides, walking the trails, shopping, picnics, picking up fresh vegetables, or to just take in the natural beauty of this place. The local residents and shop owners are always friendly.

Forget abouti t! Roast beef was dry but not for the gravy I couldn't have got it down. The chicken was half of one breast and fried. My wife thought it was great but it smelled totally of garlic! Nice racket, chump the city folks with a $15. lunch with "very" small portions of sides (which was okay to have small portions because the food was lousy.). Had we have liked the food, we woudl been upset with the teeny side portions. Whatever the potatoes and cabbage leaves were supposed to be, they weren't. The greens that were supposed to be cabbage had a very sour taste and the macaronni and cheese tasted like it was out of a box. The only good thing was the little spoon biscuits with chives - they were very good along with the tea. Save your money and gas and eat at a Golden Corral it's a better deal. Better yet for those of you who want to see what good Chicago food is like, go to Wildfire. This joint wouldn't last 2 weeks in Chicago.

If I could give it 6 stars, then I would. This is THE single best day trip from Atlanta and not contrived. It is self-sustaining community known around the Atlanta area for their organic farms. They have a bed and breakfast and a residential community complete with their own school. They have 3 restaurants, all of which are gourmet, but each offering a different vibe. I've been to the Farmhouse for Sunday brunch, where there was 1 thing on the menu: fried chicken with mashed taters and haricot vert. After brunch we walked around and looked at the gorgeous flowers that pour from every inch of this development. They also have chickens, pigs, cows, llamas, and tons of other intriguing farm animals. They have really put some thought into this community and left no ordinary detail unscathed. They dress everything from the quaint street lights made to look like drooping flowers and the stop-signs adorned with flowers to the fence that is made out of an old tree stump and the basketball court that is covered with a wisteria laden pergola. It's a great place to take kids and unsuspecting adults. You have my word that you'll love it!

Worst planned Easter event ever! No signs. No organization. Multiple lines, each could only do one thing and without anything to say what the each line was for. The egg hunt started 45 min late because they had not processed half of the people. None of the events were planned out. This was the second year we tried going to this and if they can not get their act together by now, they never will.